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It is difficult to understand Prof. Goldberg because he speaks (    )  1.quick 2.soon 3.rapid 4.very rapidly  ------ It seems to me that both #1 and #4 work...

Guest · Accepted Answer

I don't know why, but "speak quickly" or "speak rapidly" are acceptable I guess. Let's wait for better explainations.

Wai_Wai · Answer

Hope I could answer your question:

(1) acceptable but I don't like using it. It is because it complicates the concept of "adverb". You know, adverbs mostly end in -ly. I would like to make it as true as possible and eliminate any exceptions. So since we have a choice between "quick(adv)" and "quickly(adv)". Why not use "quickly"?
In fact, English has too many redundant rules/things which only adds pains to nglish learners. A mandatory amendment on English would be a life-saver to all English learners (andeven native speakers) over the world.
Anyway, it is just my naive opinion and you may totally ignore it.

(2) Wrong. Soon means "in a short time". It cannot be used to describe the pace/speed of speaking.

(3) Unacceptable. Unlike the strange "quick" which can be adverb without -ly, "rapid" is adjective only!!. We have to use adverb here.

(4) Acceptable. It means very fast.

Mephorium · Answer

Option 1 works because quick is an adverb, and can modify the action verb speaks.

Option 4 works because of the same principle. Also, "very" may be omitted, if you would like.

CalifJim · Answer

According to the Usage Panel for the American Heritage Dictionary, "quick" is an acceptable replacement for "quickly" only in short utterances like "Come quick!" Ninety percent of the panel found "quick" an unacceptable substitute for "quickly" in other contexts.

Mephorium · Answer

Ah, I was using Merriam-Webster. I'll switch over to American.

Taka · Answer

Thank you. folks!

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